Survival of Japanese cranes in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park in Hokkaido - it’s the breeding season for Japanese Cranes. These birds are among the biggest of all cranes, with a height of over a meter and a half. The reeds provide perfect cover for nesting and the shallow waters offer plentiful food to raise young cranes. These two chicks are three weeks old. The chicks left the nest just two days after hatching and can already feed for themselves. But they have much to learn from their parents.

These birds are precious, there are less than 3,000 Japanese cranes left in the wild. But the chances of both chicks surviving are slim. Many succumb to diseases, extreme weather or predators. In the past, their survival has been threatened by more than just natural dangers. Man brought the Japanese crane close to extinction, hunting them for their decorative feathers and draining their precious wetland habitat. By the beginning of the 20th century, these cranes were declared extinct in Japan. But in 1924, 15 birds were miraculously discovered here in the Kushiro Marshlands. Dedicated conservation efforts allowed their numbers to recover back to over 800 birds today.

Here the cranes are thriving and the shallow waters offer a varied diet of plants, insects, frogs and small fish. Perhaps not quite small enough for this chick. It will be a while before the young cranes are completely independent. Japanese cranes lead secretive lives when they are caring for chicks. Images like this are rare and give a privileged glimpse into their family lives. The natural habitat of the cranes is still declining and their global survival is not guaranteed. But here in Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park their future is secure.